Post menopausal weight gain

Weight gain in and around menopause is a common problem for many women. In this article, we will review the causes, symptoms, treatment options and prevention strategies to deal with both perimenopausal and post menopausal weight gain.

Obese woman trying to lose weight

Some of the questions we will answer in this article include the following:

What causes perimenopausal weight gain?

How do you lose weight during menopause?

What causes belly fat after menopause?

Can a postmenopausal woman lose weight?

How can I stop putting on weight?

What is the average weight gain during menopause?

Can menopause cause weight gain and bloating?

Let us review some of these topics and answer the questions related peri and post menopause related weight gain.

First question we answer is the following.

How much weight does an average woman gain during menopause?

On an average, women gain an average of 5 pounds after menopause although it does vary – some women gain more than others.

What causes the post menopausal weight gain?

Lower estrogen levels may play a role in weight gain after menopause.

Weight gain may be caused by your metabolism slowing down as you age.

You may also not eat as healthy or be as active as when you were younger.

You also lose muscle mass as you age as muscle burns more calories at rest than other types of tissue in the body.

Other factors may include:

family history of obesity

use of anti-depressant or anti-psychotic medications

chemotherapy

lowered metabolic rate

altered lifestyle – for example, eating out more.

What are the risks of being overweight or obese?

Weight gain can raise your risk for high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, heart attack, and stroke. The risk is greater if you are already overweight or are not active or eating healthy.

What the body changes that happen at menopause?

As we age, our muscles decrease in bulk and our metabolism slows down. These changes can contribute to weight gain around the time of menopause.

Other physical changes associated with menopause may include:

skin changes, such as dryness and loss of elasticity

vaginal dryness

hair growth (or loss).

These changes may affect a woman’s body image and self-esteem and increase her risk of depression and sexual difficulties. Taking steps to manage the symptoms of menopause can help.

What is the effect of oestrogen on fat distribution at menopause?

Many women in perimenopause and early post menopause years gain fat mass as their oestrogen levels drop. Women of childbearing age tend to store fat in the lower body (making them ‘pear-shaped’), while men and postmenopausal women store fat around the abdomen (‘apple-shaped’).

Animal studies have shown that a lack of oestrogen leads to unwanted abdominal fat, although the exact mechanisms are not yet understood.

Can hormone replacement therapy (HRT) lead to weight gain?

Contrary to common belief, weight gain is not linked to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) – also known as menopausal hormone therapy (MHT). In fact, some studies suggest that use of HRT/MHT is associated with less fat gain and potential beneficial effects on muscle mass.

If a woman is prone to weight gain during her middle years, she will put on weight regardless of whether she uses HRT/MHT. Some women may experience symptoms at the start of treatment, including bloating and breast fullness, and these may be misinterpreted as weight gain. These symptoms usually disappear within three months of the therapy doses being modified to suit the individual.

What is the relationship between menopause and cardiovascular disease?

As women get older, their risk of cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) disease increases. This may be partly due to the postmenopausal tendency to put on weight around the abdomen. Body fat stored within the abdominal wall and around the internal organs (visceral fat) is a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease.

How to manage menopause-related weight gain?

To manage weight after menopause, try to:

eat a healthy diet (calorie control will help in losing weight); other options such as a low-carbohydrate diet (for example, the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet), the 5:2 diet, or commercial programs such Weight Watchers, Lite n’ Easy or Jenny Craig may be useful strategies for some women

engage in regular and sustained aerobic exercise. This will give your metabolism a boost. Aim for at least 30–60 minutes of moderate physical activity on most days

build and maintain your muscle mass with strength training such as weight training or weight-bearing exercise such as walking (see your doctor before starting a new exercise program)

accept the changes to your body that are age related and work towards decreasing your risks by taking healthy lifestyle measures.

Doing yoga can help to decrease waist circumference and weight.

Avoid crash diets

A crash diet involves severely reducing the amount you eat over a short time. Due to the body changes that occur in your muscles, this means you are likely to put on more weight when you start eating normally again.

Leptin (the ‘fat hormone’) plays an important role in body weight management, as it contributes to appetite control and metabolic rate. Studies show that leptin levels drop after a crash diet, which increases the appetite and slows metabolism.

Since its inception in 2011, W8MD’s insurance physician weight loss program has successfully helped thousands of patients succeed in not only losing weight but also keep it off with an ongoing maintenance plan.

W8MD’s Insurance Physician Weight Loss Program is unique in many ways with a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach to weight loss addresses all the complex issues leading to weight gain, both in adults and children. The Center’s team of practitioners are among the most qualified, dedicated and hospitable professionals in the industry. Learn more…

Prab R. Tumpati, MD.
Dr. Tumpati is the founder and medical director of W8MD Weight Loss, Sleep and MedSpa Centers. Dr Tumpati is board certified physician practicing sleep medicine, obesity medicine, aesthetic medicine and internal medicine. Dr. Tumpati’s passion is to educate patients and get to the root of the problem rather than "band aid medicine".
As a physician with fellowship training in Obesity Medicine, Dr. Tumpati has a unique approach to wellness, weight loss, and medical aesthetics with a focus on prevention rather than cure.
Dr. Tumpati takes pride in helping patients come of many chronic life style medications such as blood pressure, cholesterol or diabetes medications by helping them lose weight and change their life style.
Dr Tumpati believes in evidence based medicine rather than fad diets that do not work and works with each patient taking their unique situation in to consideration that causes them to gain weight so he can find a customized solution.
Serving as the medical director of the W8MD's New York City, Cherry Hill NJ and greater Philadelphia offices, Dr Tumpati is the leading weight loss, sleep and aesthetic medicine physician in the tristate areas of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.